Combined gravity and vacuum steam trap



June 5, 1928. I

w. HANNON COMBINED GRAVITY AND VACUUM STEAM TRAP Filed Aug. 51, 1927 M am m n m m E a w W W L 5% y l W a y m fi 1 m m n w W M P/\\ V PatentedJune 5, 1928.

LAwnENoEw. HANNQN, or mon'ron, omo.

comiamnn GRAVITY AND vacuum STEAMTRAP;

Application. filed Augustin, 1927. sriaino. 216,729

A grave danger exists in the operation of low pressure steamengines byreason of the back pressure caused by saturated steam leaving theengine. The back pressure thus caused is a source of serious trouble,which in someinstances results disastrously to the engine. I s

The present invention provides atrap for eliminating theexcessivemoisture from the exhaust or a low pressure steamengine, said trap beingadapted for automatic or manual operation and by gravity and vacuum,said trap consisting of a closed tank of suitable capacity disposed at alower level than the low pressure engine tofadmit of the condensateflowing thereto from the engineby gravitative action and assisted by thesuction resulting from exhaustingthe air from the tank. i a

An embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawingwhich is a side view of a trap and adjunctive parts, a portion of thetank being broken away to show the float therein. s

The tank is designated by the numeral 1 and may be of any capacity andconstruction, andis located at a lower level than the low pressure steamengine with which it is associated. For convenience, the trap is shownlocated within a sump or pit 2. A pipe 3 connects the tank 1 with theexhaust of the low pressure engine, not shown, and this pipe is providedin its length with a valve 1. A pipe 5 leading from the tank 1 isconnected to an air pump, not shown, whereby air may be exhausted fromthe tank to create a vacuum therein. 7 5 is provided in its length witha controlling valve 6 and a pressure indicating gage 7. The numeral 8designates a vent pipe which is connected with the top of the tank 1,and which is provided with a valve 9. A gage 10 is connected with thetank 1 for indicating the level of the water therein. One end of thegage 10 is connected directly with the tank, whereas the opposite end isconnected to the vent pipe 8. A pipe 11 connects with the bottom portionof the tank 1 and is provided with a valve 12. A pump 13 has the pipe 11connected thereto, and a discharge pipe 14 leads from the siphon toconvey the water to a convenient point of discharge. The siphon 13 mayconsist ofa rotary pump and motor which is adapted to be operated bysteam from the boiler, not shown, supplied thereto by means of apipe 15.A

The pi pe pipe 16. connects with the pi pe lllat a point between thevalve 12 and siphon 13, and is provided in its length with a valve 17. A

pump 18 is connected with the bottom of the tank 1 by means of a pipe 19in the length ofwhich is located a manually operable valve 20 and acheck valve 21. A pipe 22 connects the pump 18 with the boiler. not

shown, to supply the condensate thereto as feed water from thetank 1.The feed pipe 22 is provided with a manually operable valve 23 and acheck valve 24t, .the latter being automatic in action to prevent lossof water from/the boiler; The check valve21 is also automaticin action.A steam pipe 25 supplies the motive medium for operating the pump 18andconnectswith the boiler or othersource of supply, not shown.

The pipe 25' isprovided with a valve 26 which is adapted to be operatedautomatically, or by hand, as desired. A lever 27 is connected with themovable part of the valve 26 and is weighted at its outer end, the

weight 28 being connected thereto by means of a chain, or in any otherdeterminate way. A flexible connection 29 is coupled at one end to thelever 27 and passes over guide pulleys 30 and 31 and is connected at itsopposite end to a stem 32 projecting from a float 33 and operating in astuffing box 34 at the top of the tank 1. The float 33 is disposed.within the tank 1 and the guide pulleys 30 and 31 give proper directionto the flexible connection 29. The weight of the float 33 is in excessof the weight 28, hence, when the'float is at a low level within thetank 1, the weight 28 is elevated and the valve 26 closed, but when thefloat 33 is elevated by a rise of the water in the tank 1,

the-weight 28 descends and operates to open pump 18, whereby to pumpthe-water from the tank 1 and force it as feed water into the boilerthrough the pipe 22 upon opening the valve 23. When the float 33descends the valve 36 is automatically closed, thereby cutting ofl' asupply of steam or other motive medium to the pump 18.

When the valve 4: is open the condensate from the low pressure enginewill flow by gravity through the pipe 3 into the tank 1. Thisgravitative action may be assisted by creating a partial vacuum withinthe tank 1. This is eflected by closing the valves 9 and 12, it beingassumed that the valve 20 has also been closed. Upon opening the valve 6and starting the air pump to which the pipe 5 is connected air \vi 1 beexhausted from the tank 1, thereby creating a partial vacuum" therein,the degree being indicated by the gage 7. After a suificient quantity ofair has been exhausted from the tank 1 to create a vacuum therein thevalve 6 is closed, and the valve 4 opened, and as a result thecondensate from the engine flows throu h the pipe 3 into the tank 1 bothby gravitative action assisted by'a suction, as aresult of the vacuumwhich has been created within the tank 1. Water may he drawn-from thetank 1 and from the sump or pit 2 by means of the rotary pump 13, anddischarged. 7 through the pipe 14 at a determinate point.

tank ior connection with a' suction pump whereby a partial vacuum may becreated in the tank and hav' g a manually controlled valve in itslength, a float in said tank having an upstanding stem extendingoutwardly through: the upper portion of the v tank, a water ump belowsaid tank, a steam pipe leading tram said pump for connection with aboiler to supply steam to the pump to actuate the same, a valve in thesteam ipe having an actuating lever, a" bod of lss weight than the floatsuspended rom the lever to move the lever downwardly and open the valvewhen the float is' raised, a

flexible connection between the lever and stem of said float to closethe valve when 1 the" float is lowered, a pipe connecting said pump withsaid tank to conduct water from the tank to the pump and having amanually controlled valve and a check valve in its length, and a pipe:for delivering water to the boiler leading from the pump and having amanually controlled valve and a check valve in its length.

Intestimony whereof I aflix my signature.

LAWRENCE W. HANNON. [1a. a}

